too young for the limelight

Noah laughed as soon as he felt her hand against his shoulder. “Shut up,” he said, still laughing as he tightened his arms around her and leaning in to where her head now rest against his shoulder. “You looove me,” he teased like he had a million times before, never thinking seriously about his words. 

“You can think whatever you want,” she grumbled, purposefully not answering what he said. The truth would do her no good, and it would hurt her to lie, so she was flippant instead. waved it off like it was nothing.

“i’m already a shrew– is that close enough?”

“yeah- i guess you need to take baby steps to realize your true form.”

“I could sleep by Duck and Tommy,” he repeated, knowing it was useless the first time he said it. Noah looked back up at Seola, his face breaking out into his usual shit-eating grin. “You like snuggling,” he sing-songed. “Don’t lie.”

she smacked his shoulder, giving him her most withering glare. “i won’t cop to that, and if you go around spreading it, i’ll end you,” she threatened, though her gazed softened and she grumbled to herself, pulling him closer and forcibly wrapping his arms around her so she could cuddle up against him. “i hate you.”

“who even are you?”

“queen of the fucking universe, bitch.”

“i’ll start collecting cats now.”

“practice being a hag and a battleaxe.”

“You’re tiny, you really need all of them? My ass is cold, Seola. Maybe you should just leave me on the other side of the door with Duck and Tommy.“

“No-- then you’d have to sleep at least somewhat close to Lance, and you’re mad at him, remember?” she pointed out. “the obvious solution is you just hang on to me while we sleep. i get your furnace warmth and we both get blankets. duh.”

“you’re right. and like….if it’s too late, how am i supposed to fulfill my role as a woman?”

“you can’t. you’ll die alone and barren.”

“Why wouldn’t I want to do either of those things? I love waking up to your tiny ass stealing all the blankets.” 

“you’re warm. you’re like a furnace. you can handle me taking the blankets,” she said defensively, crossing her arms.

“that’s cold, man.”

“cold, maybe. but practical.”

“no. shiloh was somebody. seola is an ungrateful nobody.”

“and jinahn always has and always will be an absolutely empty, shallow, wretched crone.”

“Why? Personally I feel very calm… are you bipolar?”

“that’s hardly something to joke about. nor is that an accurate idea of what being bipolar is, tool.”

“i think the door’ll be closed a lot,” lance said with a laugh and an obnoxious wink. “can’t imagine noah won’t want some quality time with you, you know.”

“you think you’re clever, but i’m not going to reward him if he spends all day ignoring me for you clowns,” she teased with a roll of her eyes.

“i can feel my ovaries shrivelling up.”

“you better put those to use soon, you know. if you wait too late, you may never get a shot.”

“…what side of the door would I be on, though? Do you already think you’re gonna get sick of me and leave me with Lance and Tommy?”

“depends on how nice you are to me on the day in question,” she said with a little smile. “and whether or not you want to reap the benefits of sharing a bed with me.”

“you would be too if you had any talent or merit, shiloh.”

“seola.”